Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

After the Army
 
After my brother Bob was discharged from military service in 1952, he and his family settled in Williamsport. His second son William David “Billy” was born on January 13, 1953 in Circleville, Ohio. They lived in Circleville for a while and later in Williamsport for the rest of their lives. Bob worked at DuPont until he retired.
 
In his later years, he bought what had been Archie Rawlinson’s IGA Store and turned it into a sort of Flea Market. He wanted to provide a place for my stroke-stricken Dad to be on weekends. When I visited there, Bob handed me a small bag of potato chips and said for me not to pay. My Dad complained that Bob could never be a businessman because he gave away the store. That is who Bob was!
 
He was very involved with the American Legion. I believe he was instrumental in initiating Deercreek Dam Days that he started as a Flea Market. He acquired a lot of antiques and loved showing them off. He bought or was given newspaper clippings and photos from the defunct Williamsport News. He self-published “Peek at the Past” and “Aunt Hattie’s Scrapbook”. Both can be found in the Pickaway County Historical Society. To say that I am proud of what Bob accomplished in his life would be an understatement. He has always been and will continue to be a HERO to me.
 
Our family had been mostly a family of girls, so the photo featured in this blog was always treasured. It is the first of three young boys; Jean’s son Jeffrey Allen Davidson, standing with Robert Bruce and William David “Billy” Francis on our cistern together.…Billy holding a washcloth and Jeff holding one of our little purses.
 
It appears that Bob’s son Billy inherited his Dad’s artistic and carpentry skills but it was much more refined. One of Billy’s artistic works is featured in the last photo of today’s blog.
 
©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2021
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck